Czech came close to a hat-trick

ROMAN Bednar could have claimed a hat-trick for Hearts against Celtic yesterday but rather than bemoan a linesman's misjudgment the striker laid the blame squarely at his own feet, or, more accurately, his head.

On two occasions Bednar might have scored with headers but proved just unable to make true enough contact, although with the ball at his feet he proved deadly. His two goals were converted with impressive guile and the wrongly disallowed strike after a burst through the away defence was struck home with equal adroitness.

Despite being a yard onside, at least, the Czech striker saw his celebrations cut short by a raised flag.

Bednar was able to react with refreshing nonchalance as he pondered the hat-trick that got away.

"I had two free headers when I should have scored so I was happy to end the game the way I did," he said, with reference to his winner in the dying minutes. The strike came courtesy of Neil Lennon's slack back-pass, though Bednar proved alert enough to make it count in Hearts' favour. He scored a remarkably similar goal in the Champions League qualifying tie with NK Siroki Brijeg at Murrayfield last month.

"I always try hard and look for that," he said. "I try everything and mistakes are always possible in games."

There was certainly an error in the 50th minute, when he followed up his opener with what should have been an almost immediate second for Hearts. "It was 50-50," he said, somewhat generously. "It happened so fast. I was more angry I did not score the other chances I had."

Taken from the Scotsman